Multimodality Imaging of Medical Resins: a Comprehensive Research Catalog

Background: Additive manufacturing describes the process of creating and printing three-dimensional products. In medicine, stereolithography remains one of the most commonly used additive manufacturing techniques. At present, few studies have sought to quantify the imaging properties of stereolithography resins, which would allow for standardization and streamlining of medical research in additive manufacturing. The aim of this study is to quantify and catalog imaging properties of commercially available FormLabs stereolithography resins via computer tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and ultrasound. Methods: Fourteen unique stereolithography resins offered by Formlabs (Somerset, MA) were selected based on their clinical utility. Each resin was subject to a tri-modality investigation through computer tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and ultrasound imaging. Image analysis was performed by two separate board-certified radiologists using the picture archiving and communication system. Results of this analysis were aggregated and organized onto data tables. Results: Of the fourteen resins evaluated by computed tomography, twelve were found to have radiological properties that were within one standard deviation (σ) of a known type of body tissue, in Hounsfield Units. When the same fourteen resins were evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging, little variability was observed between each resin in image intensity. Of the fourteen resins evaluated through ultrasound, imaging revealed little variability with no significant points of comparison with human tissue. Conclusion: Our investigation confirms that computed tomography is an ideal method for comparing imaging properties of stereolithography resins with those of human tissue. A comprehensive catalog of imaging properties for stereolithography resins allows clinical investigators to standardize future research studies, decreasing inter-observer variability and improving research outcomes for new devices and phantom models in medicine.